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Why I Don't Live Vicariously Through Celebrities or Public Figures

Live vicariously through yourself.

Me being interviewed by the CW Arkansas and with actress Ciara Renee at The Cosplay Con & Anime Experience in North Little Rock, AR (November 2017)

Everyone had at least a famous person that we all have looked up to growing up. Going to an event to get a picture or autograph is an exciting moment in someone's life. In this article, I'm going to give my two cents of why I don't live my life through famous people. I know that sounds odd or unusual, but it's the truth. For most of my life, I have met many well-known public figures—mostly at conventions. People like Vic Mignogna, Kyle Hebert, J. Michael Tatum, Don Teems, and Ciara Renee. It was a great opportunity to meet and take pictures with these people. I'll always hold onto those memories by posting those pictures on my social media pages. I don't always share photos of a famous person that I met, because it's not my thing. I'll share a picture of one every now and then, but it's not an everyday thing. I don't want to come across as being a big shot or show off. It seems like a majority of people these days live vicariously through famous people: whether those people are reality TV stars, actors, or actresses. Some people do that because they feel that he or she knows them personally and is willing to defend them every single time. To be honest, it's sad and pathetic to see regular people do that, mainly because they probably don't have or never had any positive influences in their lives, which I can understand. Their lives probably have no meaning and they're constantly feeling unsatisfied about their lives. They want to see what it feels like to experience the life of that person.

People who constantly post on social media on who they met at a convention or any other event, it makes me want to ask them this question: "Who the hell are you trying to impress?" Let's be real: people want validation (for Facebook likes, Instagram hearts, and Twitter retweets) as if they are so much better than everyone else. One of my pet peeves is people who front for others that they don't know. In other words, they like to put on a fake facade to impress everyone. It's great to meet someone famous, but also remember, they're not cutting you or anyone a check just because you met them, got an autograph, or liked your photo online. Be thankful and proud that you have memories to hang onto for the rest of your life. This is why I tell people: be yourself. There's no need for you to prove anything to anyone.

At the end of the day, celebrities are regular people just like us. They're not paying your bills or putting money in your pockets. I never put famous people on such high pedestals. No one should, because you don't know what's going on behind closed doors. Also, I don't and will never claim celebrities as having a perfect life or perfect anything. Perfection doesn't exist in real life and we need to be reminded of that. I live vicariously through myself , because I have to put in work and necessary steps on how it makes me feel alive. You have to be able to live those experiences and memories on your own. Live the best life you can to the fullest. I know it's hard, but believe me, things will get better.